Water-tube fire box for locomotive boilers



Oct. 9; 1928.

G; H EMERSON Er AL WATER TUBE FIRE BOX FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 9, 1928. I 1,687,197

' c. H. EMERSON EI'AL} WATER TUBE FIRE .BOX FOR LOGOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 9, 1928. Q is UNITED/STATES PATENT oF 1cE.-

. .GEORGE E. EMERSON an]: OLIVER c. CROMWELL, OE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WATER-TUBE FIRE BOX FOR LOGOJllIOTIVE BOILERS.

Application filed December 1, 1925. Seria1' No 72,567.

ends in the drums. Boilers of this type'provide for the more economical use of steam,

feet, and whereby a superior boiler strucand make it possible, through increased heating surface and greater resistance to internal pressures, to generate and carry with safety a higher working pressure. They are also of advantage in that their construction facilitatcs the circulation of water which materially contributes towards the generation of steam. In all boilers of this type as previously constructed, however, the tubes have been so attached to the drums that they could not be cleaned or repaired without the necessity of the workmen entering the drums to per-.

form this work. This has been a drawback and practical objection for reasons well known to those versed in the art which has militated against the more extensive use of such boilers as locomotive steam generators. One object of our invention is to provide a construction which greatly facilitates assemblage and rep-airs, which permits the tubes to be reached and repaired and cleaned or turbined from the outside and without the necessity of the workmen entering the boiler, and which enables these operations to be performed in less time and at less labor cost.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of parts for carrying the foregoing and other objects, hereinafter stated, into practical efture is produced.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing the general arrangement of the drums and water-tubes within the fire-box.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on anenlarged scale through One-half of the fire-box, showing more clearly the construction.

Figure 3 is a'vertical longitudinal section through the fire-box and a portion of the barrel.

Figured is an enlarged detaillongltudlnal section through one end of one of the drums of all the drums, said manholes being norand its connection with a water-leg.

Referring "now more particularly 'to' the drawings, 1 designates (generally) the firebox, 2 the barrel, 3 the front water-leg, 4: the rear watereleg, 5 the fire-tubes or fines, and 6 the grate line (the grate being omitted for clearness of illustration), of a boiler constructed in accordance with our'invention. The front water-leg, which has a depending trough'or well portion 7 comprises a front (outer) sheet 8 and a back (inner) sheet 9, said sheets having lapped flanges 10 riveted or welded together. The sheet 8 has an openng therein corresponding in diameter to the inner-end of the barrel and is provided with a flange "11 extending from the wall'of this opening and receiving such end of the barrel,

which is riveted or welded thereto. The firetubes 5 are beaded or otherwise secured in openings in the sheet 9 and extend therefrom through the water-leg into the barrel. The rear water-leg 4 comprises a front (inner) sheet 12 and a back (outer) sheet 13, said sheets having lapped flanges let riveted or' welded together. Said sheets are also provided with flanged portions 15 suitably united to form. the fuel opening 16. The sheets courprising the water-legs are also suitably con-- 1 4, and communicate therewith, and said drums, the grate and the cooperating parts of the steanigeneratoi' are enclosed within the firebox casing formed by the water-legs and the boiler shell 20. As shown, the opposite ends of the drums, which are open, fit within annular flanges 21 projected from the walls "of openings inthe sheets 9 and 12, through which openings the ends of the drums com- Inunicate with the water-legs, the ends of the drums being riveted or welded to said flanges. manholes 2 communicating with the trough 7 in line with the front ends of the lower drums, while theshe'et 13 is provided with similar manholes 23 in line with the rear ends The-sheet 8 is also provided with tained.

' upper ends with the bottom of the drum 18.

mally closed by detachable steam-tight 010:

sures 24, on removal of which access to the drums ton lnspectlon or cleaning may be ob- The upper side drums 17 are not connected with the other drums but communicate simply with the water-legs and are of fairly great diameter to form heating surfacesa of large area. The central drum 18,however, is connected with each lower drum 19 by two or more rows of vertical water-tubes, two rows of tubes, and 26, respectively, being shown in the present instance. These tubes leading to and from both d rums 19 are beaded or otherwise suitably secured at their upper ends in holes 27 and .28 formed in the drum 18 and at their lower ends the tubes connected to each drum 19 are headed or otherwise secured in holes 29 and formed in said lower drum. Although-in practice the arrangement of these tubes may vary, it will be seen that in the illustrated disclosure the tubes 25 of each outer row extend vertically up-"' ward from the lower drum 19 and are bent about the outer side and over the upper side of the overlying drum 17 and thence extend inwardly and horizontallyto the adjacent side of the drum 18, while the companion tubes 26 of each inner row extend upward from the lower drum 19 past the inner'side of theoverlying drum 17 and connect at their Thus the upper ends of the correspondingly arranged or laterally alined tubes 25 leading from the lower drums 19 open horizontally into the drum 18 at opposite sides thereof in axial alinement with each other, while the upper ends of the correspondin ly arranged, or laterally alined, tubes 26 lea ing from the lower drums 19 open vertically into the bottom of the drum 18 close to and on opposite sides of its vertical center line. Formedin the top of the drum 18 in-the vertical transverse plane of each group of holes 27and 28 s an opening 31 closed by a detachable steamtight cover 32, the openings 31-and covers 32 being equal in number to S'tlCll groups ofholes 27 and 28 and being exposed to the exterior at the top of the boiler, so that upon the removal of any certain cover' accessto theinterior from the outside may be obtained and the tube ends of the associated group-pf tubes exposed. The-holes 29' and 30 formed in each lower drum 19 and receiving the lower ends of'the associated pair of tubes 25 and 26 of such a group are conveniently placed in transverse alinement at the top of the drum 19 and on its inner side in its 'quarter circumference between its vertical and transverse centers, while the corresponding lower half of the outer side-of said drum, diametrically opposite said holes, is provided with an opening 33 normally closed by a detachable steam-tight cover 34. ,These openings and their. detachable covers are eqllal 29 and 30, and are exposed to the exterior at the base of the adjacent side of the boiler,

so that upon the removal of any certain cover 34} the tube ends in alinement with the uncoveredopening 33 will be exposed for inspection, cleaning or repairs. It will also be apparent frormthe foregoing that upon the removal of any certain cover 32 of the drum 18 and companion cover 34 or either drum 19, the tube elements of any group extending between the two drums in question will be exposed for a convenient cleaning action, as by means of a turbine cleaner or other suitable flexible cleaning .tool. The

tubes 25 of the outer rovv can be very enliven-- iently bored and cleaned by entering the turbine through the drum 19 at an oblique or l diagonal angle and extending it clear through to the drum 18. The tubes 26 of the inner row may be turbined in a similar manner in either direction, 'i. e., by introducing the tool upwardly via-drum 19 or down-.

wardly via drum 18 as the entrance drum. The openings 33 give convenientaccess to the lower ends of the tubes 25 and 26 for repair purposes. The openings 31 give convenient access to the upper ends of the tubes 25 for repair purposes, the upper ends of the tubes 26 being easily reached and the ends of the tubes 25 being quite accessible. For

greater convenience 'm' repairing the. up-

per ends of tubes 2,'however, special tools suited to their 90 angle arrangement to the V openings 31 may be used. The'construction described not only facilitates assemblage of the tubes in the boiler, but saves time and labor in making inspection, repairs "or replacements of tubes, thus overcoming a ma terial objection hitherto present in boilers ofi this type.

may be .set any desiredjdistance apart at pomtsibetween their ends and the tubes of each row may be-spaced .as required with relation to each other, according to conditions in any particular boiler organization, to

In practice the rows of tubes 25 and 26 practiciithe firebox shell or jacket 20 may be provided with any suitable-type of heat i11 sulating lining adapted to confine the heat within the firebox to an eflicient degr 1 A preferred construction of insulating is shown, the same comprising" internal layer courses 35 of fire-brick or othersimilar mas terialiat the side and top of the firebox, the

lower courses resting on the drums 19 as supports and the top courses being supported from the upper drums by brackets 36' and i bolts 37 These com may be covered by an 011118163 layer of non-conducting, material disposed between the and the shell or jacket 20. The jacket 2 0 may be. o;f; sectional 13 0 construction,

and the jacket and lining,

such as plates secured to the drums 19 by bolts 39 and at other points by the same bolts 37 which secure the fire-brick courses inplace. The drum 18 may be and preferably is enclosed wholly in the firebox,

therefore, are provided with a suitable longitudinal slot or opening 40 above the row of covers 32 to permit of access thereto, said opening 40 being normally closed by detachable cover plates 41. These plates 41 may be fastened in position by the nuts applied to the same bolts 39 which hold the edges of the adjacent jacket plates or sections in place.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the'drawings, the construction, mode of use and advantages of our invention will be readily understood by those versed in the art withouta further and ex tended description. lVhile the construction shown is preferred, it is obvious that many changes in the form, arrangement and construction of parts are possible, and we therefore do not desire to be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as clearly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. v

' Having thus fully described our invention, we claim 1. In a boiler, a pair of drums arranged one I above the other, inner and outer rows of water tubes extending vertically between said drums, the tubes of said inner and outer rows respectively having their upper ends fitted in holes in a side and in the bottom of the and the tubes of both rows haven'ds fitted in holes, in the drum at the inner side of its upper drum, ing their lower top of the lower verticalcenter line, said upper drum being provided in its top with an opening lying in its central vertical plane and said lower drum being provided in its bottom with an opening on the outer side of its vertical center, said openings permit-ting access to the tube 7 ends fitted in the drums, and a detachable closure for the opening in each drum.

2. In a water-tube firebox boiler,v an upper drum at the top of the firebox having an opening at its top exteriorly exposed through the "firebox shell and having tube receiving holes in its bottom and outer side, a lower drum at the bottom and one side of the firebox having an opening in its bottom onthe outer side of its center exposed exteriorly at the ad side of the firebox and having tube its top onthe inner side of its vertical center at difierentfdistances therefrom, tubes having their lower ends respectively fitted in the outer and inner holes in the lower drum and having their upper ends respectively fitted in the side and bottom holes in the upper drum, and a closure for the opening in each drum.

receiving holes located-on the inner side of its vertical center and at different distances therefrom and having in its bottom a row of openings, one for each transversely alined set of holes, located on theouter side of its transverse center and exposed to the exterior at the adjacent side of the firebox, detachable closures for the openings in the drums, outer rows of vertical tubes engaging the outer rows of holes in the lower drums and the ro s of holes in the opposite sides of the upper drum, and inner rows of verticalholes enthe inner rows of holes in thelower drumand the bottom rows "of holes in the upper drum. 4. In a boiler, box shell,,and front and rear water-legs, of side drums in'the upper portion of the shell communicating solely with the water-legs, a central drum .in the upper portion of the shell communicating with the water-legs,

s a s the combination with a fire- I side drums at the bottom of the shell communicating with the Water-legs, and rows of water-tubes connecting the central top drum with the bottom side drums, said drums being provided with means for permitting access to the tube ends fitted in the drums and to the interior of the tubes radially from the interior ofthe drums through the fire-. box shell. M I

5, In a boiler, the combination, witha firebox shellor casing, and front and I631 water-legs, of upper shell communicating legs, a central top drum within the shell communicating'with the water-legs, bottom side drums within the. solely with the water ice j side drums within the shell communicating with the water-legs, an outer row of vertical water-tubes extendingfrom' each bottom side drum upwardl to the central drum, said tubeshavin'g t eir upper portions disposed between the shell and adjacent upper side drum and bent inwardly over the latter and extending horizontally into the adjacent side of the central drum, and an inner row of water-tubes extending from each lower-side drum lying tubes upper side drum, the inner rows of from both lower side drums communiupwardly on the inner side ofthe overv eating at their upper ends with the central drum at the bottom thereof, the said central and lower side drumsbeing provided with openings for afiordingaccess to thetube ends and interior of the tubes radially through said drums from theexterior of the firebox shell, and means for normally sealing said openings in said drums.

6.- In a water-tube firebox boiler, upper side drums, lower side drums, a central top drum, rowsvof inner and outer tubesleading'froni the lower side drums to the upper central drum and communicating with the latter respectively at the sides and at the bottom thereof, the outer tubes being bent inwardly over the outer side drums and ex-v tending therefrom horizontally toward the central drum, drums being provided with radial openings for admitting access thereto, closures jor said openings, a boiler shell through which said openings and closures are exposed, said shell including an outer jacket and an insulating lining therefor, and fastening means carried by said drums and engaging said shell and lining and securing the same in position.

7. In a water-tube firebox boiler, the combination of a boiler shell comprising-an outer jacket and an insulating lining therefor, of lower side drums supporting the sides of said boiler shell and lining, a central top drum, said drums having radial openings, the radial openings of the bottom drums being exteriorly exposed below the sides of the shell and the shell having an opening at its .top exposing the opening'in the top central drum, detachable closures for said openings in the drum, a. detachable closure for the opening in the top of the shell, fastening means carried by the drums for securing the elementsof said shell in position, and water-tubes.connecting the bottom drums with the top drum, the ends of said tubes and interior of the tubesbeing exposed through the drums on the removal ing at its top,

of the detachable closures.

8. In a boiler, the combination, with a firebox shell or casing having a clean-out openand front and rear water legs. of a drum in the upperportionof the shell communicating with the water legs andhavsaid bottomside and central ing aiclean-out opening in its top registering with said clean-out opening in the top of the firebox shell, bottom side drums .within the shell communicating with the water legs, an outer row of vertical water tubes extending -from each bottom side drum upwardly to the said upper drum and having their upper ends extending horizontally. into the sides of the upper drum, and an inner row of water tubes extending from each lower side drum upwardly and communicating at their upper ends with the upper drum at the bottom thereof,'said lower side drums having portions projecting outwardly beneath the side walls of the firebox shell and provided with clean-out openings," the said clean-out openings in the firebox shell and drums affording access to the tube ends, and interior of the tubes connecting the top drum with each lower side drum radially through said drums via either drum from the exterior of the firebox shell, and means for normally sealing said clean-out openings in the fire-box shell and drums 9. In a water tube firebox boiler, a top drum, lower side drums, rows of inner and outer tubes leading from the lower side drums to the top drum and communicating with the'latter respectively at the sides and at the bottom thereof, said top drum and bottom side drums beingprovided with -radial openings for admitting access thereto and tosaid tubes without entrance to the drums, closures for said openings, a boiler casing through which said openings and closure are exposed, said casing including an outer jacket and an said casing and lining and securing the same 1n pos1t1o In testimony whereof we atfix our slgnatures.

\GEORGE H. EMERSON.

OLIVER o. CROMWELL.

lns'ulating lining therefor, and fastening means carried by said drums and engaging 

